Death To Those That Go Green?

[JRW-910]

Al Gore and the rest of his minions have been talking about the need to 'go green' for many years now.* Auto makers have finally jumped on board and produced low emissions and no emissions cars.* They range from hybrids to hydrogen based engines all the way to 100% electric vehicles.* On thing that they all have in common is that they are small and light weight.* The less mass they have to carry around, the better their fuel mileage will be, but does size matter on the open road?

Of course it does, dummy!* Never mind that you can't buy more then a bag or two of groceries at the ... ... Read More

[mtnbk]

In the '70s Al and his minions were telling us to prepare for another global ice age. Now they'e screaming "global warming". I wish they'd make up their minds.

Anyway, I speculate that the vehicles of tomorrow will all be hybrids, all utilize lightweight engineered materials, and all utilize countless energy-saving technology applications, such as acceleration controlled for mileage by the "big brother" computer when you poke the gas pedal, tracking devices that prevent us from exceeding speed limits, (we're already seeing) electronic power steering to eliminate the pump's load on the crankshaft, perhaps electric water pumps, perhaps they'll even come up with an electric AC compressor. The engine portions of the hybrid vehicles will all be turbocharged (for efficiency rather than power), maybe diesels, perhaps with very sophisticated valve control. Reciiprocating components such as pistons and rods will all be lightweight materials. Oils will be O-weight. Trannys will lall be CVT systems. Tires will be firmer both in compound and in structure, and low rolling resistance. Windows (perhaps with the exception of windshields) will be polymer. Valves may even be controlled via either solenoids or (and this technology exists) a spinning string of ball-valves instead of push valves.

And the price......in today's dollars, perhaps twice current car prices. A $20K car today will cost $40K or more IN TODAY'S DOLLARS. Make no mistake, the technology will not be free.